On a beautiful morning in Starhaven, the group walked together through the academy grounds, heading to their next class. Sunlight filtered through the trees, casting playful shadows over the cobblestones.
As usual, Rethrus was nowhere to be seen. Oddly, none of the teachers seemed to care about his absence.
"Some people have all the luck," Jack muttered.
"Yeah, that bastard just does whatever he wants," Haldrin grumbled.
Lumine's eyes narrowed. "Don't talk about Rethrus like that."
"Come on," Haldrin protested, "even Aethra and Leo are here, and they're the top two and three in the class. Mind you, those two never miss a lesson."
Aethra looked both proud and slightly irritated at being called number two, while Leo just stared off, lost in thought.
"You okay, Leo?" they asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Leo replied quietly. "Just thinking about something."
As the conversation grew more animated, Celeste jumped in with a bit of news. "Hey, I heard some Avalorians might be staying here for a while. That means new faces—and maybe some good-looking guys!"
"Ack!" Celeste and Lumine squealed together.
"Hey, don't change the subject!" Jack protested.
"Why do you care?" Rina teased. "You're just jealous you're not as good-looking as the Avalorians who'll be coming."
Jack's eyes practically blazed with indignation. "That's it, Rina!" he growled, lunging forward as Jestus and Suryu quickly held him back.
"Calm down, Jack," Suryu said, laughing.
Rina just chuckled, clearly enjoying herself.
"Anyway, we're here," Aethra announced as they reached their classroom.
A little behind the group, Elizabeth walked quietly, lost in thought. 'I hope you're all right, Rethrus,' she thought, glancing back over her shoulder.
In one of the larger villages along their journey, Xiaolan and Rethrus finally allowed themselves a moment of respite. For once, they weren't running or hiding; they were simply living.
They wandered through bustling market stalls, sampling all the foods they had longed for—fresh fruits bursting with sweetness, savory pastries filled with rich meats and spices, and warm bread still fragrant from the oven. Xiaolan's laughter rang out as she tried unfamiliar delicacies, her eyes sparkling with delight.
Later, Rethrus took her to a small theater nestled between timber-framed houses. The wooden stage was modest, but the performers poured their hearts into the play, weaving tales of heroes and magic. Rethrus, however, found little joy in the performance—his mind restless and distracted. Yet, seeing Xiaolan's wide-eyed wonder and the way her face lit up with amazement warmed his heart. Her happiness was worth every moment.
As night fell over the village, a gentle hush settled across the rooftops and fields. The sky stretched wide and clear above them, a deep velvet canvas sprinkled with countless stars. Xiaolan and Rethrus found a quiet spot just outside the village, away from flickering lanterns and the last murmurs of evening life.
They sat side by side on the soft grass, shoulders almost touching, their eyes drawn upward to the glittering heavens.
Rethrus smiled softly, the weight of their journey momentarily lifting.
For a long while, they said nothing, simply sharing the quiet companionship that words could never capture. The cool night air wrapped around them, and the vastness above sparked a fragile hope in their hearts.
Xiaolan leaned her head gently against Rethrus's shoulder. "Thank you," she murmured, her voice barely audible. "For today… for everything."
That day, despite the hardships still ahead, Rethrus gave Xiaolan the best days of her life so far—a rare gift of peace, joy, and simple pleasures.
After two days, a familiar face appeared at the academy gates—Rethrus, with a small child clinging to his hand. The child's face was carefully wrapped and hidden from view.
"Ah, Sir Rethrus! It's been a while! Everyone's been asking where you were, and here you are," the guard greeted him warmly.
"Well, I was traveling in Aurelia," Rethrus replied, a faint smile on his lips. "Enjoyed myself there, too."
"News is, the king's been looking for you," the guard added.
"He did?" Rethrus raised an eyebrow.
The guard simply nodded.
"Anyway, who's with you?" the guard asked, eyeing Xiaolan, who was trying to hide behind Rethrus.
"Oh, just a kid I met along the way. I'll be taking her to the orphanage where I grew up. May I?"
"Of course, Sir. Go right ahead," the guard said, stepping aside to let them through.
Inside the academy, classes were still in session, but a few students noticed Rethrus's arrival and began whispering. Xiaolan, nervous under their gaze, squeezed Rethrus's hand tightly. Sensing her fear, Rethrus gently patted her head. "It's fine," he whispered.
They reached his room, and Rethrus settled Xiaolan onto his bed. "I'm going out for a bit, okay? You stay here."
"Can't I come?" Xiaolan asked, still holding his hand.
"No, you'll be safer here. I'll bring you more food, all right?"
Xiaolan nodded and hugged him, her voice small. "Thank you, Rethrus."
He smiled and left the room, heading down to the academy grounds—where he spotted his friends approaching. Before he could say a word, Lumine threw her arms around his neck.
"I missed you!" she exclaimed.
Rethrus laughed, hugging her back. "I missed you too."
Elizabeth watched from behind, her eyes narrowed in quiet scrutiny.
"So where've you been, big shot?" Jack called out.
"I heard you pulled off some heroic stunt in one of the cities," Terra added.
Rethrus grinned. "I was just observing every town I passed through."
"So you've been on vacation while we're busting our butts in drills and classes?" Jack joked, pretending to cry.
Rethrus chuckled. "I helped a few civilians along the way. Anyway, where's Aiko?"
Lumine let go, her expression sobering. "You mean you don't know?"
"She's already in Avaloria," Elizabeth said quietly.
"Oh. I never got to say goodbye," Rethrus murmured. "Anyway, I have to do something—gotta go." He turned and ran off before anyone could stop him.
They watched him go, a silence falling over the group.
"Huh. Every time it feels like he's finally fitting in with us," Jestus said.
"Yeah, but it's like he knows he doesn't belong, and he's just forcing himself to act like a kid," Suryu added.
"As if he always knew he's better than us," Leo said quietly, surprising everyone.
"Finally, you spoke!" they all exclaimed.
Meanwhile, Aethra watched Rethrus's retreating figure. 'Is that how far I am from him?' he wondered. 'He has to act our age, but we're the same. Is he really that much stronger, or does he just look down on us—on me?' Aethra's fists clenched as he wrestled with the thought.
Rethrus, meanwhile, sprinted toward the academy gate. 'I have to meet Mr. Takashi. He's probably at General Chan's place—since they're the same race. That's kind of a racist thought, but does it really matter now?'
As Rethrus approached the academy gate, he noticed a chariot already parked outside. The driver was a familiar face.
"Good day, Sir," the charioteer greeted, bowing slightly.
"Oh, it's you," Rethrus said, pausing to speak with him.
"My lord was aware of your arrival—and he wasn't pleased that you didn't report to your cursemaster first."
"Ah, right. I'm sorry. I've just been so busy," Rethrus replied, a hint of apology in his voice.
"It's fine, Sir. I know someone like you has many responsibilities, so I won't waste your time," the charioteer said, opening the door for him with practiced grace.
At the cursemaster's workshop, the air was thick with the lingering scent of incense and old parchment. Rethrus was preparing to leave, the sealing ritual just completed.
"So, you've been gone for a while," Morgath remarked, methodically arranging his tools and scrolls.
"Yeah, I was wandering the city and visiting some towns," Rethrus replied, trying to sound casual.
Morgath paused, then glanced at Rethrus. "There's a rumor the king can't contact Aurelia for some reason," he said quietly. "Do you know anything about that?"
Rethrus felt a jolt of panic and struggled to keep his composure. He avoided Morgath's gaze, forcing himself to appear calm and unbothered, even as his mind raced for an answer.
"I don't know," Rethrus replied casually. "After hunting dungeons and enjoying the food, I left the city and stayed in some villages along the way."
"Ah, the power of youth!" Morgath exclaimed with a smile. "Make sure to take every moment to enjoy it—especially with your caliber as a mage."
"I will." Rethrus slung his bag over his shoulder, ready to leave.
Morgath's expression grew thoughtful. "Are you sure you didn't feel any sign of a devil inside you?"
"No, I'm sorry," Rethrus answered honestly this time. He really didn't know. Of course, he had his theories, but deep down, he still wondered if he truly had one.
"Huh. You're the latest bloomer I've ever known," Morgath said with a small smile. "Well, you're dubbed the Chosen One—maybe your devil is special too."
Rethrus chuckled. "I guess so. Anyway, I'm off."
He stepped outside and headed straight to the chariot waiting nearby. Another chariot had arrived—it was the same one from before.
"It seems you already know the drill," the charioteer laughed.
"Hahaha, yeah," Rethrus smiled as he climbed aboard. "Thank you," he said to the charioteer from the Silentvisk family.
"Nice to see you again, Sir!"
"You too," Rethrus replied. "So, are we heading to the general's place?"
"Actually—"
After a brief moment, Rethrus was stunned, his eyes wide as he looked up in disbelief.
"Uhm... why are we at the king's palace?"